Toothbrush



May 17, 1932. J. H. COSTENBADER 1 1,859,129

' TooTHBRUsH Filed Dec. 19,- 195o '2 sheets-sheet 1 M ,X y Tos-gras;

Patented May 17, 1932 l':rt'amt-H.- cosT-ENBADER, oF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA f Too'rHBRsH Application mea December 19,1930. 'I serial no:$031,581'.

1,5 of the inner and outer surfaces of the teeth may be properly brushed by a movement parallel with the length of the teeth for the removal of matter lodged between the teeth.

Another object of the invention is the pro- 10 vision of a brush of the above character which will render the proper way of brushing the teeth easier than the improper way, so that the brush will act to educate the user in the proper method of cleaning or brush ing his teeth.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a brush which, in addition to the above and other advantageous features, is simple in construction, and may be easily and quickly adjusted to the desired position for use either with the right or left hand.

.Vth the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fuly described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure l is a side elevation of the invention.

Figure 2 is an end view.

Figure 3 is an elevation with parts in section.

Figure 4 is a top plan view.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views taken respectively on the lines 5-5, 6 6 and 7 7 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein likecharacters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference character l0 indicates the handle of the brush which may be of any suitable character whereby a iirm and comfortable grip may be obtained. One end of the handle is provided with a sleeve l1 which may be formed thereon or attached to the handle by any desired means. This vsleeve accommodates a plug 12 which is provided wit-h a reduced portion 13, the latter extending into the bore of the sleeve as shown 0* in Figure 3 of the drawings. Inward movement offtheplug:islimite'd"by acollar 14: which :extends around' the boreof. the sleeve,

and a shoulder lwhichis providedonthe plug l2. `vThe plug maythus be rotated or y moved :axially w-ithin thef sleeve. l

` `The plug -is'- provided with'ra vfbore 16 through .which extends. the shank I7 of la brush head 18,-the latter carrying bristles-,19. One en-d Vof the shank lZvis threadedfto receive anut 20 lwhich bears iagainst the adjacent'` endo'f; the plug and removably?holdsl theshan-k inplace. i 'sf Positioned lwithin the space provided fbe# tween the inner wall of the sleevellzanfdl'the periphery of the reducedportion 18 offthe' .i

plug, is a coiled spring -2l. One 'end'offthis springfbears againstthe collar-'laandits-.opposite end bears yagainst an annular mein ber or nutl22 which threadedly:engages-.the

adjacentend of thepluglli." The Iplugjis thus :yieldingly held `against outward .longii tudinal movement. 4The edge'offlthe sleeve 1l is provided Avwithspac'ed notches L23Lwhich areadapted to receive spaced teeth '24e` which extendfrom the opposed shoulder 25 of the plug i12. Any v'suitable `number .of these I notches and teeth `maybe provided. It isbelieved however that four-` notches Vand' four teeth are preferable s o 4that four different adjustments of the brush with respect.4 tothe handle l0 may be obtained;

As will be :seen byfreference to Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings, thesha-nkfli isfrdfisposedl at an obtuse-angle Withrespectito the handle #10 and l may be rotatably'adjustedato any of the .positions provided by thenotches 23and'zteeth 24. -iInorder-to rotatably adjust the brush, the nut endof the p1-ug12 is forced' slightly inward so that fthef teeth'fwill clear u the notches, whereupon theI brush maybe rotated until "the teeth -again enter' the notches. Four vdifferentadj usted 'positionsofthe brush are illustrated in Fig'ure2 ofthedrawings, the-full line position of this figure Ashowing the brush adjusted for' brushing fthe "upper surfaceof-the lower 'teethf .-TBy reversing the position lof the brush .as `indicated f-byrthe dotted lines at A in FigureQ, thelowerfsur-A face of the upper teeth may be convenientlyy brushed', vfwhile z the .Zdotted lines :indicate of the mouth, while either of the positions B and C may be utilized for brushing the outside of the front teeth or the inside of the front teeth, depending upon which hand Y holds the brush.

By reason of the arrangement of the brush bristles with respect to the handle and the positions into which these bristles maybe adjusted, the most convenient direction Yof movement of the bristles over the teeth will be vertical or in the direction of the length of the teeth. The invention will thus iniuence the user to brush the teeth in a proper manner for the removal of particles of food lodged between the teeth, instead of brushing themitransversely of the teeth as with the straight handled brush.V This transverse brushing` of the. teeth forces food to collect between the teeth and fails to remove the film along the side edges of the teeth.V A brush constructed in accordance with the present invention renders transverse brushing of the teeth difficult.

By reference to Figure 3 of the drawings it will be seen that the shank 17 is removably secured within the plug 12, so that when the lsns brush bristles become worn, a new brush may be secured within the plug. It will not be necessary therefore to renew the entirel brush and handle. Independent rotary movement of the shank within the plug is prevented by the cross sectional shape of the shank and plug at one end thereof` as shown in Figure 6.

. The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make suchvchanges as properly fall within the .scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. Ina toothbrush, a handle, an kangularly disposed socket at one end thereof, a brush carrying .'hank, a plug carried at :the inner end .of the shank: and rotatably and axially movable withinl the socket, and spacedmeans surrounding the socket and engaging the v plug to hold'the shank against rotation. 2l In atoothbrush, a handle, an angularly Y disposed socket at one end thereof, a brush carrying shank, a plug having a reduced portion carried a't the innerend ofthe shank and rotatably/and axially movable within the socket, and yieldable means within the socket and surrounding the reduced portion of' the plug to resist axial movement of the shank.` I Y 1 -3. Ina toothbrush, a handle, anangularly les f 

